Dr. Shirley Ann Gandy's latest book, Remember White Meidilands, released by Publish America in fall 2003, has received five star reviews and was chosen as book of the month by Llano County, Texas Library book discussion group.

Dr. Gandy, author of three nonfiction books, many short stories, articles and columns, hits hard with her first fiction/mystery, REMEMBER WHITE MEIDILANDS, set in the Tennessee mountains where Gandy has lived for thirty-five years.

(PRWEB) February 28, 2004 --REMEMBER WHITE MEIDILANDS takes place during an ice storm as citizens of Soda Creek search for a missing girl, whom after being abducted and dumped in the woods, develops amnesia and takes up with a homeless woman. This page-turner has everything from Christian and family values, to abuse, a private detective, an attempted hanging and a gun-shot killing. The characters are as real as your next door neighbors, people with whom you can identify, who will make you laugh, cry, get mad and become friends you'll want to visit in the next Soda Creek Mystery, HOUND DOG CHARLIE, to be released in 2004.

It is no surprise that a group of women meeting for their monthly book discussion in a Llano County, TX library chose Shirley Ann Gandy's new book, Remember White Meidilands for February's book of the month.

Comments from the members ranged through "page turner", "great escape", "easy to take", "rescued me from boredom" and moved on to ways each individual identified with the story and the characters. One pleasant librarian in the group said she identified with the bit of spousal abuse in the beginning. One lady identified with what she called Christian values, another with the strong family values in the book. All agreed it was a love story with a beautiful, original twist. Another librarian, originally from South Carolina, said the setting and the Tennessee mountain people made her think of home. Everyone in the group agreed the book was just the right size. They speculated on what the author was going to do with certain characters in the sequel to Remember White Meidilands coming out in August of 2004.

One of the librarians said she would not hesitate to recommend the book to anyone; in fact she had recommended the other three libraries in the county purchase the book. The meeting closed with the group agreeing to invite Ms. Gandy to TX for the book festival the county will be holding in October after her new book, Hound Dog Charlie comes out in August.

The groups positive suggestion to the publisher was that Remember White Meidilands would be a great book to publish in large Print. From the one visual impaired member came the suggestion to put the book on tape. Suffice it to say, Remember White Meidilands was a hit with this special group of Texas women. The sequel, Hound Dog Charlie is anxiously awaited and will be well received.

Other reviewers have compared Gandy to Mary Higgins Clark, Anne Tyler, Phyllis Whitney and Francine Rivers, but all agree that her style stands on its own, and that she creates lovable characters that are so real they stay with the reader, making them wonder what certain characters will be doing in the next book of the series.

Dr. Gandy was born and raised on a Georgia farm, and has lived in Tennessee for thirty-five years where she was in the Nashville music business before she became an author. REMEMBER WHITE MEIDILANDS, and her other books, are described on her website, along with publishers, ISBN numbers and bookstores where they can be purchased.

REVIEWER'S COMMENTS

You gotta read this book! The characters jump off the page making you feel like you're right there with them. Believe me, you won't be able to put it down, and you'll share their excitement and love all the way to the end of the story as the entire community's faith is renewed. It's funny, yet very touching. The best book I've read lately.
Gregory T., TN

Ms. Gandy creates characters which by the end of the book will become friends, folks you want to know more about and will wonder what they're up to long after you've finished reading the book! Her characters are believable and familiar to us all. The story is one of intrigue and romance, in equal portions, enough of each to keep you turning the pages. This is a fun read and one which will stay with the reader after the book is completed. L. Giddens, TN

Ms. Gandy is the most refreshing, talented new fiction/mystery writer to appear on the scene in years. Since I read a lot of mysteries, I can usually tell what will happen next and most of the time I can determine the ending. Not with this book! I simply never knew what was going to happen next, and was totally surprised with the ending. I stayed up till three a.m. because I couldn't put it down. REMEMBER WHITE MEIDILANDS is without a doubt the best, most entertaining book I've read lately. I'd like to add one more important fact: I was thoroughly entertained without having to wade through foul language. I can't wait to read Ms. Gandy's next book.
Mary C., GA

I loved your latest book, REMEMBER WHITE MEIDILANDS. I have been a fan of yours for a very long time and have all your books and music CD's from when you were a singer. Suffice to say, I love your voice and your writing. You are a very talented lady.
Jo M., SC

For more reader's comments ON REMEMBER WHITE MEIDILANDS and Shirley Ann Gandy's other books, visit her personal website:
www.sagworld.com

Other sites:
www.authorsden.com/shirleygandy
www.publishamerica.com/shirleyanngandy